Speculation has been raised that Pope Francis has been venturing out of the Vatican at night, disguised as a priest and meeting with the homeless in Rome.

In a recent interview with Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who has
headed up the centuries-old position of seeking out the poor
handing out alms for the Catholic Church, Krajewski seemed to
imply that Pope Francis has been joining him on his nightly trips
into the city.

Krajewski has been instructed by the Pope of finding those in
need, reforming the work into a hands-on project and an extension
of the church’s charity.

"The Holy Father told me at the beginning: 'You can sell your
desk. You don't need it. You need to get out of the Vatican.
Don't wait for people to come ringing. You need to go out and
look for the poor,'" Krajewski said.

According to a source that The Huffington Post describes as
knowledgeable on the matter "Swiss guards confirmed that the
pope has ventured out at night, dressed as a regular priest, to
meet with homeless men and women."

Krajewski himself avoided a direct answer to the rumor that the
Pope is venturing out in disguise when pressed by reporters.
“When I say to him ‘I’m going out into the city this evening’,
there’s the constant risk that he will come with me," said
the Archbishop.

Archbishop Krajewski receives bundles of letters from the Pope
each morning, on top of each are notes written by Francis that
can read "you know what to do" or "go find them" or
"go talk to them," reports The Huffington Post.

Vatican officials have so far rejected the rumors of the Pope’s
escapades, saying that the story was “simply not true,” though
that is unlikely to quell the story.

Having already raised eyebrows for statements ranging from
dealing with homosexuality to capitalism and wealth distribution,
the latest tale seems to fit into the evolving image of a
grounded, populist heads of the Catholic Church.

Since taking on the Catholic Church’s top position, Pope Francis
has become well known for pushing certain boundaries, broaching
tough topics such as the church’s sexual abuse scandals, and
presented himself as an unconventional leader. Likewise, the
media has been quick to highlight some of the more colorful
aspects of the Pope's background, such as his recent admission to
having worked as a bouncer at a bar in his youth.

The Pope’s recent commentary on wealth have charged a decisively
populist course for an institution that is at times associated
with corruption within its finances, and is itself a wealthy
organization.

"How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly
homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock
market loses two points?" Pope Francis asked an audience at
the Vatican last month.

Those comments were accompanied by an 84-page apostolic
exhortation, or a “mission statement” for the church
released by Pope Francis, which further outlines his views on
wealth disparity.

“A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual,
which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and
rules.”

"To all this we can add widespread corruption and self-serving
tax evasion, which has taken on worldwide dimensions. The thirst
for power and possessions knows no limits."

"Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear
limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we
also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and
inequality. Such an economy kills," the Pope’s document
reads.

If the Pope’s marked departure from his more staid predecessors
may be riling up the most conservative wings of the Catholic
Church, so far they seem to be having a positive effect among his
flock.

According to a recent report by Italy’s Center for the Study of
New Religions (CESNUR) since Pope Francis was installed there has
been a notable rise in church attendance. According to a survey
conducted by researcher Massimo Introvigne of 250 Catholic
priests, 51 percent reported a significant rise in
churchgoing.

"It might have been attributable to the novelty of having a
new pope and the emotions stirred by the resignation of pope
Benedict. But after six months I got more or less the same
result," Introvigne told The Guardian newspaper.